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| United States Patent |
5,033,788
|
|
Raj
|
July 23, 1991
|
Combined hard top and convertible top car
Abstract
A combined hard top and convertible top car comprises a car and a cap which
has the configuration of the convertible top when the top is in up or
elevated position and overlies the convertible top. The cap comprises of
top wall, a rear wall, a rear wall and side walls. The cap includes front
flanges along the front edge of the top wall which engage under the front
edge of the convertible top, rear flanges along the rear wall which engage
under the front edge of the car body adjacent the rear wall of the
convertible top and side flanges along the side walls that engage the
sides of the car body. The car top is applied by the successive steps of
releasing the front edge of the convertible top from its point of
attachment to the windshield of the car, setting the hard top in place,
positioning the rear flanges below the front edge of the car body,
engaging the front flanges under the front portion of the convertible top,
reengaging and latching the front edge of the convertible top to the
windshield thereby causing the rear flanges on the hard top to engage
under a portion of the car body, and thereafter simultaneously pushing
inwardly on the side walls of the hard top to engage the side flanges
under side moldings of the car.
| Inventors:
|
Raj; Joseph T. (Riverview, MI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Evans Automotive, Division of Evans Industries Inc. (Wayne, MI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
489020 |
| Filed:
|
March 6, 1990 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
296/136.09; 296/210 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B60J 007/08 |
| Field of Search: |
296/136,210
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2765192 | Oct., 1956 | Blake | 296/210.
|
| 3241877 | Mar., 1966 | Tate | 296/136.
|
| 3328073 | Jun., 1967 | Einhorn | 296/136.
|
| 4154473 | May., 1979 | Alexander et al. | 296/210.
|
| 4699420 | Oct., 1987 | Priest et al. | 296/210.
|
Primary Examiner: Focarino; Margaret A.
Assistant Examiner: Pike; Andrew C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch, Choate, Whittemore & Hulbert
Claims
I claim:
1. A combination cap and convertible top for a car having a windshield,
sides, and a rear wall having a front edge, said combination comprising
said convertible top having a front edge and a rear wall, and
said cap having a configuration of the convertible top when the convertible
top is in an up or elevated position and adapted to overlie the
convertible top,
said cap comprising a top wall having a front edge, a rear wall, and side
walls;
said cap further including a front flange means fixed along a front edge of
the top wall and extending rearwardly of the cap and engaging under the
front edge of the convertible top,
rear flange means fixed along the rear wall of the cap, extending
rearwardly of the cap and engaging under the rear wall of the car adjacent
the rear wall of the convertible top,
side flange means fixed along the side walls of the cap that engage the
sides of the car,
said cap being adapted to be applied by the successive steps of releasing
the front edge of the convertible top from a point thereof of attachment
to the windshield of the car,
setting the cap in place,
positioning the rear flange means below the front edge of the rear wall of
the car,
engaging the front flange means under the front edge of the convertible
top,
reengaging and latching the front edge of the convertible top to the
windshield thereby causing the convertible top to be stretched to the up
position thereof and the rear flange means on the cap to engage under a
portion of the car, and
thereafter simultaneously pushing inwardly on the side walls of the cap to
engage the side flange means under side moldings of the car.
2. A method of making a combined cap and convertible top for a car having a
windshield, sides and a rear wall having a front edge, said method
comprising
providing said convertible top having a front edge and a rear wall,
forming said cap having the configuration of said convertible top when the
convertible top is in an up or elevated position and overlies the
convertible top, said cap comprising a top wall, a rear wall, and side
walls,
providing front flange means fixed along a front edge of the top wall and
extending rearwardly of the cap adapted to engage under the front edge of
the convertible top,
providing rear flange means fixed along the rear wall of the cap and
extending rearwardly of the cap and adapted to engage under the front edge
of the car adjacent the rear wall of the convertible top,
providing side flange means fixed along the side walls and extending
downwardly of the cap that are adapted to engage sides of the car,
releasing the front edge of the convertible top from a point thereof of
attachment to the windshield of the car,
setting the cap in place,
positioning the rear flange means of the cap below the front edge of the
rear wall of the car,
engaging the front flange means of the cap under the front edge of the
convertible top,
reengaging and latching the front edge of the convertible top to the
windshield thereby causing the convertible top to be stretched to the up
position thereof and the rear flange means on the cap to engage under a
portion of the car, and
thereafter simultaneously pushing inwardly on the side walls of the cap to
engage the side flange means under side moldings of the car.
Description
This invention relates to convertible tops and particularly to providing a
hard top on convertible top cars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A popular type of car is one wherein a convertible or soft top is supported
by a linkage so that it can be positioned in an elevated or up position or
retracted to a lower or down position. Such cars have a disadvantage in
that in periods of inclement weather such as snow and cold, they are not
as comfortable and the convertible top can be damaged. It has been
recommended that a hard top be positioned in place of the convertible top
or over the convertible top when the convertible top is lowered. Such hard
tops have been found to be quite expensive and difficult to maneuver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a combined
hard top and convertible car top wherein the hard top overlies the
convertible top in an erected position and; wherein the same mechanism
that locks the convertible top in place also locks the hard top in place;
which arrangement is relatively low in cost; which provides minimum noise
as in the case of a completely closed car; and which is readily adaptable
to various types of convertible cars.
In accordance of the invention, a combined hard top and convertible top car
comprises a cap having the configuration of the convertible top on the top
is in an up or elevated position and overlying the convertible top. The
cap comprises of top wall, a rear wall and side walls. The cap includes
front flanges along the front edge of the top wall which engage under the
front edge of the convertible top, rear flanges along the rear wall which
engage under the front edge of the car body adjacent the rear wall of the
convertible top and side flanges along the side walls that engage the
sides of the car body. The car top is applied by the successive steps of
releasing the front edge of the convertible top from its point of
attachment to the windshield of the car, setting the hard top in place,
positioning the rear flanges below the front edge of the car body,
engaging the front flanges under the front portion of the convertible top,
reengaging and latching the front edge of the convertible top to the
windshield thereby causing the rear flanges on the hard top to engage
under a portion of the car body, and thereafter simultaneously pushing
inwardly on the side walls of the hard top to engage the side flanges
under side moldings of the car. The hard top is preferably made by
compression molding plastic and glass fibers to form a top with the final
desired shape and with a finish comparable to that of the remainder of the
car so that it can be painted and baked, if desired, to conform with the
finish of the car and, optionally with the color of the car.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary prospective view of a convertible top car to which
the invention may be applied.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a convertible hard car
embodying the invention.
FIG. 3 is a partly diagrammatic side view showing the hard top being
applied.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the hard top.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line of 5--5 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the attachment of the hard
top and the soft top to the windshield header.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the flanges utilized on the
front edge of the hard top.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of the hard top.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the rear of the hard top
during application.
FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 showing the hard top in position over the
erected convertible top.
FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the hard top applied over a
convertible top.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the hard top.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taking along the line 13.gtoreq.13
in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 14--14 in FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along
the lines 15--15 in FIG. 12.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the invention relates to cars having a convertible top
T that is supported by conventional linkage so that it can be an upper of
extended position, known as the up position or a lower or retracted
position, known as the down position. The top is fastened along the rear
wall and the sides and releasably latched by well known latches at its
front edge to the windshield pillar 20.
The combined hard top and convertible top car comprises a plastic cap H
having the configuration of the convertible top T when the top T is in an
up or elevated position and overlying the convertible top T. Cap H
comprises an integral top wall 21, a rear wall 22 and side walls 23. The
cap H includes front flanges or hooks 24 attached along the front edge of
the top wall 21 which engage under the front edge of the convertible top
T, a rear flange or hook 25 attached along the rear wall 22 which engage
under the front edge of the car body adjacent the rear wall of the
convertible top C and side flanges or hooks 26 attached along the side
walls 23 that engage the sides of the car body. The hard top is preferably
made by compression molding plastic and glass fibers to form a top with
the final desired shape and with a finish comparable to that of the
remainder of the car so that it can be painted and baked, if desired, to
conform with the finish of the car and, optionally with the color of the
car.
The car top H is applied by the successive steps of releasing the latches
which engage the front edge of the convertible top C from its point of
attachment to the windshield header of the car, setting the hard top in
place, positioning the rear flange 25 below the front edge of the car
body, engaging the front flanges 24 under the front portion of the
convertible top T, reengaging and latching the front edge of the
convertible top T to the windshield header thereby stretching the
convertible top to its up position and causing the rear flanges 25 on the
hard top H to engage under a portion of the car body, and thereafter
simultaneously pushing inwardly on the side walls of the hard top H to
engage the side flanges 26 under side moldings of the car.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 12, the hard top H comprises
the top wall 21, rear wall 22 and a opposed side walls 23. The spaced
flanges 24 (FIG. 7) are mounted on the front edge of the top wall 21 and
extend rearwardly. The rear flange 25 extends from the lower edge of the
rear wall 22 rearwardly. Side flanges 26 extend downwardly from the lower
edge of each side wall 23. Each flange 26 preferably includes an offset
portion 27 extending downwardly and an opening 28 therein, for purposes
presently to be described. The top H is also provided with a resilient
foam seal strip 29 that extends along the inner surface of the forward
edge of the side walls 23, side edge walls 30 of the top wall 21 and front
edge wall 31 of the top wall 21 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8). The hard top H further
includes an opening 32 surround by a inwardly extending flange 33 which is
adapted to engage the rear window 34 on the convertible top T.
The car top H is applied by the successive steps of:
1. Releasing the front edge of the convertible top C from its point of
attachment to the windshield header 35 of the car (FIG. 1),
2. Setting the hard top H in place,
3. Positioning the rear flange 25 below the front edge (FIG. 9) of the car
body,
4. Engaging the front flanges 24 under the front portion of the convertible
top,
5. Reengaging and latching the front edge of the convertible top C to the
windshield header 31 thereby stretching the convertible top to its up
position and causing the rear flange 25 on the hard top H to engage under
a portion of the car body (FIGS. 10 and 11), and
6. Thereafter simultaneously pushing inwardly on the side walls 23 of the
hard top H to engage the side flanges 26 under side moldings 36 of the
car.
It can thus be seen that there has been provided a combined hard top and
convertible car top wherein the hard top overlies the convertible top in
an erected position and; wherein the same mechanism that locks the
convertible top in place also locks the hard top in place; which
arrangement is relatively low in cost; which provides minimum noise as in
the case of a completely closed car; and which is readily adaptable to
various types of convertible cars.
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